NHL team uses startled penguins for pregame show

Here’s an example of a sport organisation going a bit too far in its choice of pre-game entertainment.

NHL team the Pittsburgh Penguins thought it would be funny to get some penguins to entertain the fans in the lead up to their clash with the Flyers at their outdoor stadium.

As part of the entertainment they set off some fireworks above the stadium for dramatic effect.

And as you can imagine the Penguins were startled by the intense noise created and it seems the decision to have the flightless birds in attendance didn’t sit too well with animal rights group PETA.

The organisation sent a letter the hockey team, condemning the use of live animals and how the pyro-technic display “scrambling in terror after being paraded in front of a screaming crowd and in close proximity to ear-splitting fireworks.”

But the Pittsburgh Zoo hit back defending the teams choice of entertainment.